Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC has reiterated the government’s commitment to working with the Spiritual Baptist community to establish a long-awaited Secondary School for the faith.
She made the pledge while addressing a Spiritual Baptist Liberation Thanksgiving Service in Moruga on Monday afternoon.
“Land alone is not enough. Land is important, but it is not enough. The pathway out of poverty, the passport to a better quality of life, you heard me say it all the time, is empowerment and dignity with education.”
The Prime Minister first announced that the government would establish the Secondary School in the Lower House last Friday, noting that Cabinet had already approved the long-standing request.
She assured that the government will work directly with the Spiritual Baptist community to bring the proposed school to fruition.
“When our children rise, the community rises. When the community rises, our nation rises. So in keeping with my thinking, we will talk to the Baptist community. We’ll work it out and plan through consultation what we do, how we go forward with the secondary school.”
Mrs. Persad-Bissessar described the Spiritual Baptist faith as a haven, one that has partially shaped her future.
“I related a part of this story in Parliament on Friday. It’s important we understand this. I said that I was baptised in the faith. I said I’m not only wearing these beautiful clothes because I like it, but because I was baptised in the faith. I tied my head from way back as a child. And then one on the other side stood up and said, ‘Hypocrite. I don’t know Indian people does be in Baptist thing.’ Well, maybe you should come down here in Moruga/Tableland today. Come and see and learn.”
The Prime Minister also praised the resilience of the Spiritual Baptist community, noting that even when their worship was a criminal offence, their faith endured and grew stronger.